Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-07-16
get up to see you next month,

bAhNNA O'NAhNh
John Rowland remembered the
omitted passage well. He had given
| ii much thought, for he wished to make
it as impressive as possible, With 4
view of ~pcrfecting it, he had carried
the leaf in his pocket for a week, and
then, careleS>ly, had neglected to put
it with its fellows, Now, however. he
would make a fair, clean copy and
send to his associate. But before doing
so he opened another letter which had
come from the post-otlice that morning.
1t was from his elder brother, Tom.
Dear john" it said. ''Do you know
anything of that volume of Tasso had
at your place last summer? 1t was pre-
scented to Wc by the late Rev, DR.. Me-
Rae, and was annotated by him in his
own hand. His biographerS wish to
use the book in preparing a forthcom-
ing history of his life. If You can find
it, please send it to me at once
With a guilty feeling John ~recollect-
ed that he had left the work with the
charming Mile Payson, who had cast
so strong 4 spell over him during the
summers outing. I'm write for it,"
he thought, and a little thrill of JOY
flooded his heart as he recognized the
value of the opportunity. 1t made
what Stuart had urged, Il grand ''ex-
cusc' for beginning a correspondence.
He had scarcely realized, until now,
how he longed for some word from the
hand of the girl he SO much admired.
Turning to his desk, he wrote two
lettcrs-onc to Mitlie PaySon, three
sheets Ton one side only, for he was a
WerdteW now, and the other to Stuart
Claire, composed of the missing page
and an explanatory note. By Il brisk
walk he was Just able to deposit them
in the postal car of the Chicago *
press as it moved from the Windham
station.
Twcnty-four hours later two scenes
of interest to us are being simultane-
ously acted, One is at Bcloit, in Il
soantily-furnished office, before whose
door creaks u tin sign, inscribed; STU
art Claire, Attorncy-at-Law."
The embryo Erskine and prospective
Dumas is handling a package of manu-
script written partly in John Howland's
feminine chirography and partly in his
own wcll-nigh illegible scrawl. At last
he stops, extracts a few leaves, takes
from an envelope single sheet, slips
it between the others, and reads:
ALLYN Gcrnlaine watched the fitting fairy
like form until it had rcachcl the entrance to
the arbor. Then he threw himself into "a kneel-
ing posture, and broke forth: Darling, you
know l have given in your care n piece OF port.
able property belonging to another. Do you re-
member the small volume of TaSso | gave you
one day when we were searching for lilies in the
| crystal covcs of Bluff Island? The book vas u
| present to my brother. and contained some au-
tograph marginal notes by an eminent divine.
| Hence, it is asked for by the biOgraphcrs of the
reverend gentleman. will give YOU n new vol
ulne, and request that You rciurntom me your copy.
! regret the necessity of this: but you will not
care, while | am under an obligation, you see,
TO produce the work which | had purloincd.
Speak, darling but Gcnevra turned like a
frightened fIwn, and ran swiftly through the
shrubhery to the house.
The lawyer is puzzled and annoyed
by the tame, spiritlcss climax, and
audibly apostrophizcs his literary col
league in no measured terms. Then
he lays by the manuscript and leaves
the office.
The second scene is performed in the
palatial home Of Judge Payson. at
Claimont. a tall, fair girl, with
%peach-blow checks and ruddy lips, is
holding to the light a letter bearing the
postmark ''Windham." Having given
the misSivc n shake, she tears the
envelope and turns, wOman-likc, to the
signature, A delicate flush lights up
her face as she recognizes the name of
her Sodus Bay friend. With eager
eyes she scans the first page;
"WISDHAM, Nov. 30, 1891.
any DEAR Miss PAySoS: You may be sur.
prised to hear from me, your casual a~cquaint.
ancc at Sodus Bay, but | think | have a good
excuse for taking the time You will spend in
reading this cpistle. The days we passed TO.
gethCr last summer seem fatcd to haunt me;
for, besides enrichcning my thoughts with
pleasant memories and my body with treasures
Of good health, they are torclbly recalled by the
fact that | left -
The leaf is slipped behind, and the
finish i1,nt hn- tinn,,l hon. f,,, I,,,.,.
as she whispers to herself the words
that follow:
MY heart in your keeping. Since the day we
first met down by the moaning sea the vision OF
your face has shown from every sky and your
name has iioated TO me upon every breeze.
True, firm and lasting as the eternal purple
peaks that hold their mighty heads hcavenward
is my love for you. And | believe that in your
heart Of hearts there turks a love as strong as
mine. Give me one syllable OF promise. Tell
me yes that you return my passion; yes that
you will be my wife. II you do not, all the light
that illumines my soul will have faded and left
me deSolate."
Another leaf is transferred, and she
reads on to the end:
Tim is passing pleasantly here. am dc.
'AfhE A"N i'iohA' " A'lNkl u WIN u
fish a book about February.
~ may be able TO get down TO call on You a,
the holidays. or course, | shall be pleased &c
hear from you.
VERY sincerely,
JOHN Rowland"
"a cold closing" she thinks; but,
after all, there was warmth enough in
the letter. With quick steps she seek,
the security of her own room. Their,
she rereads the precious miSsive; and
80 far from feeling resentment, takes
from its box her choicest stationery
and writes, with many corrections ant
blots, a letter which, on the followin.
day, greatly startles n young barristei
at Windham.
: Startles him 50 much, indeed, tina
! he telegraphs to Stuart Claire:
I "Come up OF noon train; strong rea
sons"
: Stuart obeys; and when the friend
have reached Howland's Office asks
, with considerable asperity: What i
up now?"
"Up now?" is the reply. Every
thing is up. just read that letter
, and tell me if l am losing my senses
L .,Slnv,1,. oA,,k,t,.,ll,. - ...:.l. d..